Packaging machinery and method



J. H. LEMELSON 3,385,025

PACKAGING MACHINERY AND METHOD 5 Sheets-Sheet l May 28, 1968 Filed on.22, 1965 34. 7 33. INVENTOR.

JeromeHLemelson r 9 6 5 5 3 M .m H w m mo 2 2 5 M 1 m a 5 Q 3 0 l O 2 U3 3 1\ I V EVVVVV W y 1968 J. H. LEMELSON 3,385,025

PACKAGING MACHINERY AND METHOD Filed Oct. 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. Jerome H Leme\$0 May 28, 1968 J. H. LEME LSON PACKAGINGMACHINERY AND METHOD 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 22, 1965 INVENTOR.Jerome H.Lem etson y 28, 1958 J. H. LEMELSON 3,385,025

PACKAGING MACHINERY AND METHOD Filed Oct. 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Jerome H.Leme|son United States Patent 3,335,025 PACKAGING MACHINERY ANDMETHOD Jerome H. Lemelson, 85 Rector St., Metuchen, NJ. 08840Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 201,231,

May 21, 1962. This application Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,315

11 Claims. (Cl. 53-30) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus andmethod are provided for forming sheet materials into containers and thelike which also includes means for packaging a product within the formedcontainer during the forming operation. In one form of the invention, acontainer member is formed between cooperating dies and a fluent productis dispensed into the container member directly through the forming die.In another form, material to be packaged is disposed on a fiat sheetwhich is moved past a die containing sheet material formed therein andoperative to form an enclosure for said material from both said sheetmaterials. The apparatus also includes a sheet forming means comprisinga rotary array of female dies cooperating with male dies forautomatically forming articles such as packaging components.

This invention relates to packaging machinery and is acontinuation-in-part of my copending application entitled, PackagingApparatus, Ser. No. 201,231, filed on May 21, 1962, now US. Patent3,244,082, issued Apr. 5, 1966, and having as a parent application Ser.No. 831,893, filed Aug. 5, 1959, now US. Patent 3,035,382, issued May22, 1962.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide new and improvedautomatic apparatus for forming packagmg.

Another object is to provide new and improved automatic sheet formingapparatus which may be used in the fabrication of improved types ofpackaging on an automatic basis without the need for human handling.

Another object is to provide improved package forming apparatus whichincludes means for automatically filling or partially filling containersor the like formed by said apparatus.

Another object is to provide automatic machinery for continuouslyforming sub-packages or small containers which are generally packaged ina master carton or larger containers, said apparatus including means forwelding or bonding the containers to a base sheet or a wall of themaster carton and the means for automatically filling or partiallyfilling said sub-containers.

Another object is to provide improved package forming and fillingapparatus which may be made to operate continuously without interruptionfor the manufacture of sheet articles.

The invention also consists of certain new and original features ofconstruction and combination of parts hereafter set forth as claimed.

The nature of the invention, as to its objects and advantages, the modeof its operation and the manner of its organization, may be betterunderstood by referring to the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings formin a part thereof in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary detail in sectioned end-eleva tion of alignedsheet forming dies comprising part of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the sheet forming dies of FIG. 1 brought together;

"ice

FIG. 3 illustrates the sheet forming dies brought apart with thecomponent formed thereby retained by one of said dies;

FIG. 4 is a sectioned view of one of the dies of FIG. 3 in the act ofwelding the part formed thereon to another sheet;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the product formed by the apparatus ofFIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 6 is an end-elevation of a fragmentary detail of an alternatedesign for the die of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an end-elevation of a further die design replacing one of thedies of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of an automatic packaging machine utilizingcomponents of FIGS. 1 to 7;

FIG. 8' is a schematic block diagram of a control systern for theapparatus of FIG. 8

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of a further modification to part of theapparatus of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an elevation in section of a plurality of sheet forming diesprovided in accordance with the teachings of FIGS. 1 to 7;

FIG. 11 shows the dies of FIG. 10 in closer proximity with the membersformed thereby being welded to a base sheet in accordance with theteachings of FIGS. 1 to 7;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary detail of a sheet forming and welding apparatusshown in the act of forming a container from a first sheet of material;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary detail of the apparatus of FIG. 12 with theformed sheet component removed from the female die of said apparatus;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary detail of the apparatus of FIG. 12 shown in theact of Welding the component formed thereby onto a second sheetmaterial;

FIG. 15 is a side elevation in partial cross section showing furtherdetails of the apparatus of FIGS. 12 to 14; FIG. 16 is an end elevationof the apparatus of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary detail in section of a modified die utilized inthe apparatus of FIGS. 12 to 16; and

FIG. 18 shows the dies of FIG. 17 in the act of Welding the sheetcomponent formed thereby onto a second sheet.

FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate in cross-section portions of a male and femaledie adapted to eoact to form a packaging member such as an open cup froma sheet of deformable material such as plastic, metal or foil and FIG. 4shows the male die member thereof coacting with another die in weldingsaid cup to a second sheet material. In other WOIdS, the same die memberused to shape the sheet material into a container, is also used toeffect welding of said container to a second material. Such apparatus,modified in shape, may also be applied to the forming and welding ofarticles other than packaging containers or the simultaneous forming,die cutting and welding of two or more members from sheet metal. plasticor laminates. The resulting welded assembly is illustrated in FIG. 5which shows a cup-shaped container 20 secured by means of a weld 23 to abase sheet 24. If the sheet 24 comprises a portion of the wall of acontainer or a shelf portion of a box container, the weld 23 will serveto prevent movement or shifting of the cup therein and may serve as ashock absorbing means for the container and contents. The weld 23 may beof any suitable shape, although if provided as a spot weld of smallarea, it may retain the container 20 on 24', yet be capable of beingtorn or ruptured to permit removal of the container and its product byhand.

In FIG. 1 a thin sheet 19 of deformable material is provided on thesurface of a platen or female die 17 and is preferably held thereon bymeans of rollers or other clamping means (not shown). A male die 10,part of which is illustrated, has a tapered nose 12 adapted to cooperatewith the walls of a cavity 18 in a female die 17 and is adapted to shapesheet 19 therein when member 10 is advanced with nose 12 aligned with18. Base 10 preferably contains provided thereon a row or rows of maledie portions such as 12 which may be frusto-conical or otherwise shapedfor forming said cups. The external surface of 12 and wall 18 of thecavity 18 may also be shaped to provide corregations in the wall of thecontainer 20 formed therebetween for stiffening said walls. The nose 12and cavity 18 may be formed into any suitable shape and may berectangular or semispherical. If the sheet 19 is made of a metal such asaluminum or aluminum foil, it may be easily deformed into the cavity 18when the nose 12 advances as in FIG. 2, provided that it is notcompletely restrained. The sheet 19 may also be made of a plasticmaterial or a lamination of plastic and metal foil. If the material 19is a thermoplastic or lamination of a thermoplastic and foil, it may beformed into the shape illustrated in FIG. 5 by the application of heateither to the female die 19 on which it rests or by means of a radiantheater applied above the die just before advances over cavity 18. InFIG. 3, the die 10 is shown retracted from 17 so that its end clears theupper surface of the female die. The cup is shown held against thesurface of the nose 12 and is carried therewith over a bucking member ofthird die as illustrated in FIG. 4. The two dies 10 and 25 coact toeffect a spot weld 26 between the bottom 22 of 20 and the sheet 24. Thenotation 17 refers to a hole through the female die 17 extending throughthe bottom wall of the cavity 18 to which suction pressure may beapplied, which pressure may be utilized to perform either or both of twofunctions. The vacuum pressure applied through 17 may be utilized tohold the sheet 19 against the upper surface of die 17 and/ or to assistin the formation of the cup. For example, if the sheet 19 is made of athermoplastic material which is in a semi-molten condition prior to theadvancement of 10, the plastic over the opening in 18 will be drawn intothe die, which action may be completed or partially effected before thedie nose 12 advances into said cavity. The die nose 12 may thereforeeither be used to effect the complete formation of the cup or to coactin the final stage of its formation as well as to effect the transfer ofthe finished article and its welding to the sheet 24.

A plurality of die-formations similar in shape to 12 or of differentrespective shapes may be provided in a row or rows or in any requiredarray on a single diebase or block 10 for simultaneous formation of aplurality of containers similar to the container 20 shown in FIG. 3 inabutment with the male die portion 12 upon removal from the cavity. Thedie-block 17 is provided with plural cavities such as 17 each adapted tomate with a respective male die nose. The male die-portions 12 may beprovided on a rectangular block or in a cylindrical array as describedhereafter. If the nose portions 12 are rectangular in cross-sectionrather than tapered as shown, the formed open container 20 will remainthereon due to friction upon removal of 12 from cavity 18 without theneed for applying a suction pressure between the die and the cup.

The notation 12' refers to a cavity in the end of the nose portion 12 ofthe die 10 which may be used to perform either or both of two functions.Said cavity 12' may be utilized to coact with a pressure welding tooltip as hereafter described. It may also be shaped with outwardlytapering side-walls in a manner whereby the cup formation 20 will beheld against 12 when the latter is removed from the cavity 18 in 17. Theshape of 12 may be such that it will so maintain 20 against 12 when thedies separate, yet will permit the removal of 20 therefrom after thebase 22 of 20 is welded or adhered to the base sheet as illustrated inFIG. 5. The cavity 12' in 12 may thus serve the dual functions ofcoacting in effecting the pressure welding of the base 22 of 2t) to asecond member and maintaining said container on the die until said weldis effected for transportation over said second member.

The male die 10 is also provided with means for trimming the resultingcup shaped container 20 from the surrounding sheet so that all thatremains is a bowl with a circular rim as illustrated in FIG. 3. Saidtrimming may be effected by means of a circular cutting die or knife 13which is held in an angular cavity surrounding the die nose 12 by meansof a ring 14 and which projects beyond the surface of that part of 10which surrounds the nose which is referred to by the notation 11. Thenotation 15 refers to an annular washer of rubber which is bonded to theface of 14 and normally projects beyond the face 11' which serves toseparate the scrap material 19" from the material of the cup 20 when thedie is lifted as in FIG. 3. The notation 16 refers to a hole through thenose 12 and base 11 of the die 10 which extends to the fac of the nosefrom a control valve (not shown) which valve is connected to both fluidsuction and pressure means. Suction pressure applied on the line 16 willhold the cup formation 20 against the male die 10 as illustrated in FIG.3 so that it will be removed thereby from the cavity and can betransported through a fastening or welding station such as illustratedin FIG. 4.

In my US. Patent 3,035,382 the packaging structure illustrated in FIG. 5is provided which may comprise a plurality of cup shaped containers 20each of which has a corrugated side wall 21 and flat bottom 22 with thebottom of each container secured to a base sheet 24 by welding orbonding by means of an adhesive or fusion of One or more heatedthermoplastic materials. The term bond where used hereafter shalltherefore refer to securing of the container to the base or retainingsheet by means of an adhesive or welding. The base sheet 24 may comprisea wall of a master container against which a number of the smallercontainers 20 are held by welding or other means and are each adapted toretain a material or other product therein. If the material contained bythe cup shaped containers 20 is a single portion of foods such as acupcake, it will quite often be desired to remove the container with theproduct in order to retain said product until it is eaten or otherwisedispensed of. The bottom 22 of each container is therefore removablysecured to the base sheet 24 by means of an adhesive placed between thetwo or a spot weld such as 23 having a characteristic such that thecontainer 20 may be removed from 24 by hand without difficulty by meansof a simple pulling action therein in which the weld 23 is broken ortorn. The same male die 10 which formed the container may be utilized toeffect said weld 23 in a continuing operation after it is formed withoutremoval from the nose 12 of the forming die.

When the die 10 retracts, the spot weld 23 between the bottom 22 andsheet 24 will retain the cup 20 against 24 and separate the nose 12 ofthe die from said container 20. For certain applications it may bedesirable to apply a positive pressure to the duct 16 to facilitateremoval of the die nose 12 from the corrugated cup 20.

A fast setting adhesive may also be applied as a spot to either or boththe abutting faces of 22 or 24 which adhesive will removably retain 20on 24 when it hardens. If a non-drying pressure sensitive adhesive isutilized, then it will be required to apply a positive pressure to theline 16 in order to separate container 20 from the nose 12 before thedie is lifted therefrom, to repeat the cycle of operations.

FIG. 6 shows the design of modified dies for effecting the resistance ofultrasonic welding of the materials of the cup 20 and a base sheetreferred to by the notation 35. It is assumed that the male die 30 hasbeen used to form the cup-shaped foil container by the method of FIGS.l-3 or the like and it has thereafter advanced said container heldthereon by mechanical or suction means against the upper face of 35which is shown abutted against a flat surface of the die block 36. Abore is provided through the male die base 31 and the nose portion 32thereof. Inserted in said bore is an insulating sleeve 33 of anysuitable material which holds an electrode 34 therein having a tip 34'which projects slightly beyond the end of the nose 32 or is movablyprojectable therethrough in a manner whereby it may be used tocompressively engage the upper surface of the bottom of the container20. Electrical or ultrasonic energy applied between the electrode andthe platen 36 which is grounded at 36 if generated at the correctfrequency and intensity while the tip 34 of the transducer 34compressively engages the bottom wall of 20 against 35, may be utilizedto effect a spot weld 23 between the materials of 22 and 35. Theretaining action of the weld and/0r pressure applied through a bore suchas 16 may be utilized to separate the die from the cup when the dielifts away from 25.

Resistance or magnetostrictive welding means may also be utilized toeffect a spot weld between the sub-container and the base sheet 24whereupon notations 34 would refer to a resistance or magnetostrictivewelding electrode. If the materials of either 20 or 24 arethermoplastics or are coated or laminated with thermoplastic materials,the electrode 34 may be a resistance heating element or rod whichprotrudes from the end of die nose 12 adapted to apply sufficient heatto the bottom 22 of 20 to melt said thermoplastic material in theimmediate vicinity of the electrode for effecting said spot welding.

A further modification in the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 isnoted, reference being made to the same drawings. It has been proposedthat the duct 16 may be used as a means for applying a suction orpositive pres sure to the container formed on the nose 12, for eithermaintaining it against said nose during removal from the cavity of thedie 17 or helping to force it off said nose after said container hasbeen secured to the base sheet 24. The duct 16 may also be used for thepassage of a liquid or other fluid material therethrough for partiallyfilling the container 24) after it has been secured to the base sheet24. The liquid may be any flowable liquid which is gated through a valvewhich is controlled to operate either while the die 10 is in the act ofretraction from the sheet 24 after the weld is effected or when 10 hascompletely withdrawn from the interior of the container 20. The fluid orliquid passed through 16 to be contained by the corrugated container 20may also be used as a means for supplementing the action of separatingthe sheet container 20 from the nose 12 of the die. The single duct 16may be used to perform two or more of the multiple functions describedby the use of a multiple position valve in the line 16 or tubingconnected thereto which communicates to a source of pressure, vacuum orpressurized liquid. A plurality of ducts 16 extending through the nose12 of 10 may also be utilized for faster filling of the container or toeach perform a respective and different of the mentioned operations.

In FIG. 1 the notation 17' refers to a duct or passageway providedthrough the female die 17 and exiting on the bottom wall of the cavity18. Positive and/or vacuum pressure may be applied to the duct 17 foreither aiding in the ejection of the container 20 or helping to formsaid container during the initial phase of the movement of 12 in 18. Ifthe material 19 is a thermoplastic which has been heated to asemi-molten condition the die 17 may be utilized as a vacuum formingmold by the application of a negative pressure to the line 17' after thesheet 19 is heated, to draw said material into the cavity 18 prior to oras the nose portion 12 descends therein. The formation 20 may thus becompleted or partially completed by the time 12 advances into thecavity.

In a further proposed embodiment, the die-sections of FIGS. 1 to 4 maycomprise injection mold-halves or mold sections for forming the section20 by injection molding a plastic material. The notation 16 mayrepresent the gate portion of the mold cavity which would be reduced incross-section where it exits so that the gate will break off after themolded section 20 is secured to the base sheet as in FIG. 5 and the nose12 is removed therefrom.

The semi-molten or soft condition of the base 22 or 20 immediately afterbeing molded or vacuum formed may be utilized in effecting a bondbetween said formed cup and the base sheet 24 by application ofsufficient pressure between the die 10 and the members 20 and 2 againsta platen or die such as 25 as shown in FIG. 4. The bottom 22 of 20 maybe kept in a semi-molten condition after the formation of 20 or may beheated to effect the heat welding of 22 to 24 by heating the end of 12by conventional means just prior to or after the formation of the cup20. A resistance heating element may be secured in the nose 12 or anelectrode connected to a source of high frequency energy electronicallyeffecting the weld 23. The spot bond may also be effected by applying aspot of pressure sensitive or drying adhesive material to the uppersurface of 24 or the bottom of 22 prior to bringing the two together orby providing a heat scalable plastic such as the polyvinyl chloridecomposition known as Videne A on either of said surfaces and meltingsaid plastic with heat applied to either the bottom surface of 24 orupper surface of 22.

Another welding arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 7. The cup 20 isshown formed on the nose of a male die 10' and is shown in abutment witha sheet of material 35. The sheet 35 is shown laminated to a sheet 40 ofgreater thickness, the assembly or combination being referred by thenotation 39. The notation 35' refers to an adhesive between 35 and 39provided for holding the two together as a lamination or sandwichconstruction. The material 40 may be cardboard or plastic and a hole 40His provided therethrough so that an electrode 34", which is mounted in atubular insulator 33' will reach the bottom surface of the sheet 35. Theelectrode 34", which is secured to the press platen or die bed 38, hasits tip projecting suificiently above the upper face of 38 or isprojectable therefrom so that it will compress the sheet 35 against thebottom face of 20. When electrical or ultrasonic energy is applied bymeans of 34 to the face of 35 it will effect a weld between 35 and 20and the assembly may be lifted off 38 to clear the end of the electrode34", or the latter retracted after welding.

It is noted that the laminated assembly or sheet 39 may be used for thebase sheet of the configurations of FIGS. 4 and 6 if, where necessary,said openings 40H are provided in the sheet 40 to permit each die orwelding tool to pass to the metal portion of the combination. If thematerial comprising 20 is a thermoplastic material or is coated with athermoplasic material then the electrodes 34 and 34" preferably containthe necessary heating elements to effect a spot weld between twosurfaces which are in abutment with each other.

The welding apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 may for the automaticassembly and filling of such products be applied in an integratedassembly and filling machine as boxed candies, baked goods such ascupcakes and the like, various types of foods such as individualportions of fresh fruits, cooked or semi-cooked foods such asvegetables, desserts, ice cream or the like. In FIG. 8 the basiccomponents of an automatic package forming and filling machine areillustrated which utilizes part of the eventual package as a means forconveying a plurality of small containers past filling apparatus andinto a shipping or master carton. In FIG. 8 a plurality of theheretofore described foil or sheet containers are simultaneously formedand are simultaneously positioned on and Welded to a base sheet which iscontinuously fed from a roll, said base sheet acting as a conveyor forthereafter moving and prepositioning said containers relative to productfilling apparatus. The base sheet with the filled or partially filledproduct contained in the containers welded thereon may then be passedthrough further processing apparatus such as a heating oven or zone,whereafter it may be further processed by cutting into a predeterminedlength and/or shaping it into at least part of a container. In FIG. 8the predetermined lengths of the base sheet are automatically loadedinto open boxes as they are cut, their operation eliminatingsubstantially all of the manual operations presently required for asimilar type of packaging operation.

Before more fully describing the apparatus of FIG. 8, it will be notedthat the supply of the base sheet from the large roll has a continuoussheet which is provided in FIG. 8, may be replaced by a plurality ofshorter sheets of the same material with an intermittent feed thereof onto a conveyor to effect substantially the same function of the apparatusin FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 illustrates automatic packaging machinery for forming,assemblying and filling containers of the type hereinabove describedsuch as apparatus illustrated in part in FIGS. 1 to 7. A sheet 51 of afirst material such as metal foil, plastic or laminate of these two perse or with paper board, or paper is fed from a supply into a formingpress having a bed 54 against which a portion of the sheet 51 iscompressed and deformed into cavities therein by means of dies such asheretofore described which are secured to a bed 55. The bed 55 isadapted to be moved up and down on tracks, arms or guides 55' extendingdownward from an overhead carriage 56 which is adapted to be movedlongitudinally along tracks or guides 57 which are supported from above.Respective servo means such as hydraulic actuators (not shown) areinterlocked in their operation and automatically controlled to advanceand retract the die assembly 55 to form cup shaped containers from sheet51 and to transfer the containers so formed on the male die portions toa position over a bed 61 of a fastening or welding press. A plurality ofpowered rollers, two of which 52 and 53 are shown, are automaticallycontrolled in their operation to feed and preposition lengths of thesheet 51 beneath forming press 55, to hold said sheet in place againstsaid press and to effect removal of the scrap from the press.

A second sheet of material 60 feeding from a second supply roll 59 isadvanced over the press bed 61 onto which a plurality of the containers20 are placed when the press bed 55 aligns with and advances towards 61.The containers or cups 20 are secured in a predetermined array of rowson 60 by one of the hereinabove described means. The base sheet orlaminate 60 is then power driven as an elongated belt by aligned pairsof power rotated drive rolls represented by the notations 62 and 63which are mounted on bearings supported by a frame (not shown) anddriven by conventional chain drive means at constant speed to advancesheet 60 at a constant speed. The movement of sheet 60 may be continuousif the press carriage 56 is controlled in its movement to move at thesame speed as 60 for a short distance while the bed member 55 isadvanced and bonding or welding is being effected between the bases ofthe containers 20 held thereby and the sheet 60. The means for drivingsheet 6t} may also be intermittently operated and interlocked in itsoperation to cause a predetermined length thereof to remain stationaryover 61 while one or more rows of the cups 20 are prepositioned oversaid length or portion thereof and are welded or bonded thereto.

The sheet 60 is adapted to be guided past an automatic machine 64 forfilling or placing predetermined quantities of materials or articles inrespective of the containers 20 through chutes 65 or other meansextending over respective lanes of the sheet 60. The release ofmaterial(s) or objects from the machine loader 64 may be effected bymeans of valves or the like operated by solenoids or motors which areinterlocked in their operation to the movement of the sheet 60 or aresynchronized or otherwise controlled to release said material(s) atpredetermined times during the cycle. The notation 66 refers to aplurality of belt conveyors which may be kept loaded by conventionalmeans, the movement of each of which may be controlled to automaticallyeffect the deposition of material or objects into respective of thechutes 65 for loading into respective of the containers. Various knowndesigns for intermittently operating filling apparatus may be employedfor the loading machine 64.

The belt or sheet 60 continues in its movement beyond 64 whcreafter thecontents of the containers 2%} may be further processed by heating,refrigerating or the addition of other materials thereto. The contentsof the containers may be baked or otherwise cooked, frozen or otherwisetreated.

At is end, belt 6% with the filled containers thereon passes through acutting machine 67 which is operative to cut 60 into predeterminedlengths 6-0 which may individually and automatically be loaded intocartons 63 which pass in front of 67 on a belt conveyor 69. The movementof the belt 69 of the conveyor 69 may be intermittent and synchronizedto the operation of 60 so that one or more lengths 60 of the cup mountedbase 60 will be deposited in each container.

The notation 71 refers to a machine for further operating on thecontainer and/or product therein. For example, the container 68 may beclosed or capped in 71, stacked or cartoned.

The operation of the servo-motors driving the sheets 51 and of thoseadvancing and retracting 55 and 56, the servos releasing or deliveringpredetermined quantities of products to or from chutes 65, the shear orrotary cutting mechanism of 67 and the movement of the belt of conveyor69 may be controlled by an automatic sequencing controller such as aself-recycling multi-circuit timer or any other control means of knowndesign which is preferably interlocked by limit and/or other switches toeffect the mentioned fabrication and filling functions.

It is noted that the base sheet material 60 may be driven eithercontinuously or intermittently past the filling machine 64 which actionwill depend on the material being conveyed thereby into the individualcontainers, its rate of flow from the spouts 65 and the lineal speed 0f66. In other words, filling may be accomplished on the fiy with '30 inmotion or while 69 is momentarily stopped with respective of thesub-containers 20 prepositioned relative to respective of the fillingchutes or spouts 65. The means for operating the roller drives 62, 63may be a stepping motor or conventional electric motor having thedesired acceleration and stopping characteristics. The filling spout 65may also be adapted to move short distances back and forth along theconveyor while discharging material while the shect 60 is in constantmotion past 64 to effect said filling.

FIG. 8 illustrates schematically a system for controlling the apparatusof FIG. 8 including basic servos and controls shown in block notation.The notations 78 and 79 refer to motor drives or gear motors forrespectively effecting the drive of sheet materials 51 and 50 throughrespective sets of roller drives 53 and 63. A lineal motor or hydrauliccylinder 72 advances and retracts carriage 56 and second lineal motormounted on 56 lowers and raises male die-bed 55. The control apparatuswill be described by reference to a cycle of operation. It is assumedthat the proper power supplies are provided on the correct side of allswitches and controls.

Assuming that die 55 is retracted with the containers retained by thedie formations 12 thereof, and that servo 72 is operating to drive 56 toa position 55 over bed 61 and sheet 63, when shaft 725 of cylinder 72 isfully projected a limit switch 72' effects the energization of aself-recycling multi-circuit timer 73 which respectively effects thefollowing actions during a cycle of its operation.

The timer 73 energizes the stop control 728 of lineal motor 72 stopping56 over 61. The forward drive control 75F of lineal motor 75 is nextenergized to cause 55 to be advanced to cause the formed parts retainedby the male die portion 12 to be compressively engaged against the uppersurface of base sheet 60 and welded or bonded thereto as described. Ifultrasonic-resistance, or magnetic-resistance welding is to be effected,the timer 73 may operate a generator 74 of the necessary electricalenergy when the die-block 55 is advanced, for the time necessary toenergize the transducers 34 and effect said weld by supplying thenecessary power to the input of 74 or energizing the controller 74' of74.

While the timer 73 may be used to control the servos for effecting thefilling of the individual cups further down the conveyor, the cutter in67 and the operation of conveyor 69, another technique is illustratedwhich employs a second multi-circuit, self-resetting or repeat-cycletimer 77. The die block 55 is provided with a notching blade 550 whichprovides a position indicating cutout or edge notch in sheet 60 when itadvances thereagainst, which cut-out is provided in advance of the groupof containers welded to 60 in the same action. A limit switch 76 isadapted with its actuator positioned to ride in or against the cutprovided by 556 and, when actuated thereby, energizes the timer 77which, at predetermined intervals, during which respective containersare beneath respective of the filling spouts 611 to 65-N, energizesrespective solenoids 613-1, 61S-N which operate valves permittingpredetermined quantities of the materials conveyed to the chutes to passthrough to the containers below.

The programmed controller 77 also effects the operation of the cut-offmechanism 67 by energizing a solenoid or servo 67 at the proper instantto cause a blade to shear sheet 60 near its end. The blade 67K may be arotary or lineal cutter operated by 67'.

After the containers held by 55 are bonded to 60, the timer 73 energizesthe reverse control 75R of servo 75 causing 75 to retract 55 leaving thecups 20 on 60. Timer 73 then energizes the forward control 79F of motor79 which drives sheet 60 forward until 76 energizes 77 which controls 79to stop at the proper instant by energizing the stop control 79S of 79.If it is desired to intermittently move 60, while 55 is retracted andforming new containers, to effect the filling of these containers on 60in the area of the filling spouts, timer 77 may alternately control 79to start and stop the desired number of times between which actionsrespective of the product release controls 65S-1 to 65SN may beenergized by 77.

The forward drive control 79F of servo 79 is shown energized by timer 73although, as stated, it may be controlled by 77. Timer 73 is operativeto effect the energizing of the retract control 72R of 72 and,thereafter the advance and retract controls 75D and 75U of cylinder 75to effect the formation of the sub-containers as well as the forwarddrive and stop controls 78F and 788 of motor 78 to position a new lengthof sheet 51 in the press for the next forming action prior to theadvance of 55 thereagainst. The cycle then repeats as described withmodifications to the control system of FIG. 8 which will be obvious tothose skilled in the art, the packaging apparatus described hereaftermay be similarly controlled.

Other features of the control system of FIG. 8' include the energizationof one or more solenoid operated valves such as 16V by the multi-circuittimer controller 73 at the proper time interval in the cycle forproviding a vacuum and/or pressure on lines such as 16, 17 and 17associated with the forming dies to effect the functions heretoforedescribed, the energizing of controls effecting the starting andstopping of motors for controlling other conveying apparatus associatedwith the machinery of FIG. 8 such as motor 69" for moving the belt 69'of conveyor 69 for feeding and prepositioning cartons such as 68 infront of the cut-off mechanism 67, or one or more of the feed conveyors66 as shown in FIG. 8 to maintain the storage and/or delivery chutes of64 stocked or filled with material. If the forming press represented bycomponents 54 to 57 is a compression or injection molding machine forforming the cups 20 the multi-circuit timer 73 may be utilized tocontrol the cyclic operation of the press by controlling the movement ofthe mold or die components, the injection valves and the furtheroperation as described for effecting the transfer of the molded cups tothe base sheet 60. The components illustrated in FIG. 8' couldessentially be applied to an injection molding of the containers 20 withthe die components 54 and 55 representing respective injection moldvalves, the male half 55 being used to remove the molded components fromthe female mold half 54- and transfer them to the sheet 60 where theymay be removed from the mold portions 12 when they are bonded or weldedthereby to 60 and/or by the use of positive air pressure applied throughthe lines 16 of the base 55, which pressure is controlled by timer 73operating valve 16V, at the proper instant, which valve is in a line 16Lconnecting 16 with the necessary pressure system. In such a moldingapparatus, the servo 78 would drive the screw of the injection mold and/or operate the inlet gate to effect the admittance of the liquid plasticinto the mold at the proper time in the cycle.

FIG. 9 illustrates apparatus for fabricating cups or the like from sheetmaterial by means of a plurality of rotat ing dies which replace thetrack mounted, flying press 55 of FIG. 8. The rotating machinery 80consists of a base disk or drum 80 rotationally mounted on a shaft 82which is rotationally supported by bearings (not illustrated) and ispower operated. The drum is controlled by an indexing mechanism which isadapted when actuated to rotate the base 80 through a predeterminedangle and to pause thereat while one or more tools mounted thereoncooperatively engage the work. In FIG. 9 the tools consist of dies 83,shaped in accordance with one of the die formations illustrated in FIGS.1 to 7 for forming cup containers from a sheet 86 of foil, plastic orlaminate supplied from a coil 86 and a power driven by means of poweroperated friction rollers, a plurality of which 86a, 87a, and 87b, 87bare illustrated positioned along female die member 85. A cavity in thedie 85 cooperates with each of the forming die portions 84 of the maledies 83 in forming the sheet 86, which action may also includedie-cutting the cup and retaining it on the nose 84 of the die asheretofore described.

Eight dies are illustrated, each of which may consist of a single dienose 84 or a row of said dies, each of which will form a respective cupwhen it is advanced into a respective cavity 85' in the female die block85. Each of the dies is mounted on the shaft 81' of a respective ram 81which may be fluid or electrically operated to advance and retract thedie automatically relative to the female die 85 and a table over whichthe sheet 88 to which the formed cups are to be secured, is driven. Whenretracted, each die will clear the apparatus and packaging adjacent thefixture 80.

It is noted that other apparatus or dies associated with fabricating orfinishing the articles 20 may also be spaced about the apparatus 80 andinterlocked in their operation with the operation of the apparatus ofFIG. 9. When advanced, the die may be used to either form a cup or toeffect its positioning and securing by any of the means heretoforedescribed to a sheet of material such as 88. The die 83 is shownadvanced against the sheet 86 to form it into a cup in the cavity 85' ofthe die 85. During the cycle of operation, die 83 retracts permitting itto clear the die 85 and the fixture 80 indexes one position, whereuponthe next die positioned over the press bed 90 which has a cup formed onits nose, advances against the sheet 88 and effects the welding orbonding of said cup to the upper surface of 88 by compressively engagingit against the press bed 90 in the manner heretofore described. A die83a is shown in the act of securing a cup to the upper surface of 88after which it retracts so that the fixture may be indexed to the nextposition. The movement of the sheet of foil or laminated material 88 iscontrolled by the intermittent rotation of the upper and lower groups ofpower operated rollers referred to respectively by the notations 89 and89 which are power operated by servo motors which are controlled tointermittently advance 88 predetermined distances such that each newlysecured cup will be positioned against 88 immediately behind the cuppreviously secured to 88 as illustrated in FIG. 9. Suction and/ orpressure means may be utilized for removing the cup from the die 85 andretaining it on the nose of the male die 84 by providing respectivefluid conducting means extending to each die from the central drum 80',which lines are each connected to a respective solenoid or cam operatedvalve, which is automatically controlled to open and close to effectsaid actions by known means. If fastening is effected by means of heatsealing or ultrasonic welding, the respective transducers may be securedeither to the head 84 or the correction portion of the press bed 90, theaction of which is automatically controlled and synchronized to theintermittent movement of the sheet 88 and the operation of the fixture80.

For certain packaging functions a plurality of different shaped diesprovided in the positions of the illustrated die-heads 83a to 8312 maybe provided on the packaging fixture 80, which dies may be selectivelypositioned relative to a plurality of female dies of which 85 would beone and selectively positioned relative to the table or press-bed 90 forproviding different shaped containers on the sheet 88 in anypredetermined array or order. Apparatus of this type is extremelyflexible in that, if it is desired to shift from one packaging orassembly arrangement, said action may be effected by programming therotation of the wheel or drum 80 the action of which is interlocked tothe radial movement of respective of the dies. Thus, depending on theparticular sequence of the programming means, any array ofsub-containers may be provided in any order or spacing on sheet 88provided that if the movement of 38 is synchronized to the operation ofthe rest of the apparatus. These functions may be effected by means of amulti-circuit, repeat cycle timer which controls solenoids effecting theoperation of the servos for indexing the wheel or drum 80, operating therams or lineal motors 81 and operating the drive Wheels 89 and 89'.

It is further noted that the containers 20 may also be automaticallyfilled by the apparatus of FIG. 9 after being welded or bonded to thesheet 88 if a fiowable material is introduced through each die nose 83into each container during its retraction away from the container orafter it has fully retracted and clears the container. If the sheet 88is guided in a radial path around the perimeter of the fixture 80, thebonding or welding and filling of the individual containers may beaccomplished on the fly without stopping the movement of 88.

In the assemblies and package constructions of FIGS. 1 to 9 whichprovide limited area welding or bonding between surfaces to effect thetemporary securing of the components, the various techniques of spotwelding or the like have been proposed as having means for effectingspot welding or the like have been proposed as have means for eflectingspot adhesive bonds therebetween. Adhesive bonding may be effected bythe provision of an applicating machine for automatically printing orotherwise applying spot areas or drops of suitable adhesive to thecontainer base 86, or both the container and the base sheet 86. If theadhesive is of the self-drying type, the surfaces to be bonded mustnecessarily be abutted and compressed together shortly after theapplication of the adhesive. If a pressure sensitive non-drying adhesiveis used it may be applied Whether just prior to assembly of thesub-containers or at some time prior to the assembly operation, forexample, before the base sheet must be synchronized to the movement ofthe means for applying the containers thereon or photoelectric scanningmeans may be used to detect the containers and control the operation ofcylinders or rams 81.

The use of a heat scalable plastic may be used per se for the base sheetor coated as a thin film on either or both surfaces of the base sheet orcoated on predetermined spot or band areas of the base sheet. Heatsealable plastic, such as Videne A, a vinyl chloride, may be coated onthe base sheet as a series of parallel longitudinally or laterallyextending bands on the base sheet, or as spots of limited areas of saidplastic which will effect the conservation of said plastic since only asmall area or patch of said plastic film is required to effect a spotweld with the base of the container. The spots or bands of said plasticmay be applied prior to coiling the base sheet. The movement of the basesheet past the dies used to effect the spot welds will necessarily besynchronized to the operation and movement of said dies, whichsynchronization may be effected by means of position indicating marks orcutouts provided at spaced intervals in 86 and a detection relay such asa photoelectric cell adapted to actuate cylinders 81.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a modified form of the die apparatus of FIG.8 which permits the formation of a plurality of cup shaped containersfrom a single sheet of material and the securing of said containers to abase sheet in closer proximity than that in which they were formed. If aplurality of shapes or containers as described are formed from a singlesheet of material, they must necessarily be spaced sufficiently farapart to provide enough material for fabricating each container. Sincethe metal or plastic is drawn or forced into the cavity of a mold, theremust be sufficient sheet material beyond the perimeter of the cavityfrom which the container may be shaped. In FIG. 10 the male dies arereferred to by the notations 84a, 84b, and 840 each of which is shownadvanced into a respective cavity of the group 85a to 85c of the femalecontainer forming die 91.

As formed, each container is thus positioned apart from the other and incertain packaging structures, such as the boxing of candy, it may bedesirable to position the containers closer together. In FIG. 11, thedies have been moved close to each other whereby the walls of each abuteach other so that the respective containers 20a, 20b, and 200 arepositioned closer to each other than when they were formed. Theapparatus may include means for moving the dies or die portions 84a and84c towards the central die portion 84b just prior to positioning saiddies with the containers thereon in abutment with the sheet 88 which isshown resting on the die or press platen 17. Welding or bonding may beeffected by any of the heretofore described processes whereafter thethree die portions are adapted to automatically lift out of therespective containers leaving them on sheet 86 and thereafterautomatically spread apart as in FIG. 10 and position over the formingdie 91.

FIGS. 12 to 15 illustrate sheet forming and bonding apparatus 92 adaptedto perform essentially the function of the apparatus of FIG. 9 withoutthe need for said plurality of lineal actuators or hydraulic cylinders81 as described. The sequence of operations during a single forming andbonding or welding cycle are illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 14 and furtherdetails of a modified form of said apparatus are illustrated in FIGS. 15and 16. In FIG. 12 a plurality of forming and welding dies, referred toby the notations 94a to 94d, are shown secured to the surface of a discor drum having a heavy casing 92', the assembly 92 being rotatable on ashaft 93 and adapted to index in each of its four positions. Theapparatus 92 includes means for lineally moving said base 92 towards adie-forming platen or bed 85 to engage with sheet material 86 driventhereacross and to shape said material as heretofore described intocup-shaped containers whereafter the base 92' is adapted to retract andmove towards a second sheet 88 of material against which a previouslyformed container such as 2% is compressibly engaged and bonded or weldedto the upper surface thereof by one of the methods described. Poweroperative rollers drive the sheet 8-8 across a platen 90. A single cycleof operation comprises the advancement of base 92 towards bed 85 in amanner to form a cup on the upper male die portion 940, the retractionof base 92 from 85 with the cup thereon and the further movement of 92'with a container formed on diametrically opposite die 94c until saidcontainer engages the upper surface of the sheet 88 as illustrated inFIG. 14. After the container is welded or adhesively bonded to sheet 88the base 92' moves upward a sufficient distance for die portion 94c toclear the cup 20c which it had just secured to 88. The base 92 thenrotates and indexes one position which in FIGS. 12 to 14 isapproximately 90 degrees since dies are spaced 90 degrees apart thereon.The base then advances the upper die member into the cavity over which anew section of the sheet material has been advanced by the intermittentdrive therefore. A new cup is thus formed while the sheet 88 is advancedso that the last cup 200 to be welded thereon will clear the next die tobe advanced by the movement of 92 towards the sheet 88.

The apparatus of FIGS. 12 to 14 may comprise an elongated drum asillustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16 which has respective rows of saidfrusto-conical die portions secured thereto each of which will form arespective cup. The drum 92 is mounted on a shaft 93 which isrotationally supported by a bearing 95g which is secured to the endcross members 952 and 951' of a frame 95 or rigid beams.

A power operated indexing mechanism 92" is secured to the frame insidethe bearing 95g and is operative to cause the drum or base 95 to rotate90 degrees each time it indexes. The frame 95 and die drum 92 is movedup and down to engage respective die portions in the cavities of theupper die block 85' and secure the cups formed by a prior operation,onto the surface of sheet material 88 which is driven over the baseplaten 90 as described. The lineal motion of the frame and die iseffected in FIGS. 15 and 16 by means of eight fluid cylinders referredto by the notations 96a to 96h. The bottom four cylinders are controlledto operate simultaneously to advance and retract the frame of the upperfour cylinders. In FIGS. 17 and 18 the dies have been reversed, that is,the stationary die block of the apparatus which may be designed asheretobefore described, is replaced by a die block 97 having aprotruding male nose 97' and the movable or rotating die is replaced bya die portion 99 having a cavity 99' therein adapted to the shape of themale die portion 97 of 97. Since the sheet 85 cannot be provided indirect abutment with the stationary die 97, it is driven in closeproximity to the extreme portions of the male die protrusions 97' andwhen the movable die 99 is advanced by movement of its base or drum 98towards 97, the material of sheet 86 to be formed is shaped into acontainer or open shell by forcing it over the nose portion 97'. Acircular cutting die 13 circumscribes nose 97' and cooperates with anannular surface of 99 to cut the sheet 86 around the flange of theshaped container portion 20. The base 98 then rotates and the die shapedmember 29 remains in the cavity 99 of 99 either by friction or bysuction pressure applied to one or moreducts 16, which extend to thesurface of the cavity in 99 against which the wall of cup abuts after itis formed. Eventually the die 99 is positioned over the base sheet 88riding against the plate 90. Objects or products to be packaged,referred to by the notation 100, are automatically placed on the surfaceof sheet 88 as in FIG. 18 and are carried therewith immediately belowthe die base 98 by the intermittent mot-ion of 88 and are totallyenclosed in a pocket or package, one wall of which comprises material of88 and the other Walls of which comprise the cup shaped container 29 andthe rim 20" of which is abutted against the upper surface of sheet 88and welded thereto by one of the heretofore described methods. The base98 then retracts after which the sheet 88 is advanced with the nextproduct in alignment with 98 followed by a rotation of base 98 and theindexing thereof to position the next die 99 in alignment with the maledie 97 after which the described cycle repeats. Sheet 88 may be guidedtangent to the circular array of dies if cups are cut orcircumferentially with respect thereto if individual cups are notsecured.

In a further embodiment, it is noted that the die-members 99 may each beprovided with a cutting die 13" as shown in FIG. 18 which may beoperative to perform either or both of two functions. The cutting dieportion 13 may be used to coact with die 13 or act per se in severingthe formation 20 from sheet 86 from which said formation is shaped. Itmay also be utilized, when ad vanced against sheet 88 to perforate orsever said sheet into sections defined by said cutting die whichsections will include the product 100, the covering or encompass ingmeans 20 therefore and that section of 88 to which 20 is bonded orwelded. The assembly so described may comprise a unit package to bepresented as a product per se or further packaged in a master carton.

It is also noted that cutting dies in the form of lineal knife bladesmay be provided to severe or perforate predetermined lengths of sheet 88which lengths each c0ntain a plurality of the formations 2t) inside-by-side array. Such blades or dies may be secured directly to thebase or drum 92 of the apparatus of FIGS. 12 to 16 extending the widthof the sheet 88.

The apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 may be modified and used toretain and transfer preformed containers or cups from a supply thereofto a sheet or against the wall of a container such as a box in anautomatic transfer device or assembly. The transfer members designated84a, 84b, 840, etc., may be provided with passageways such as 16 of themale die It) in FIG. 1 for retaining said preshaped containers on eachand/or for supplying fluid or fluent material to fill each cup as orafter it is transferred and positioned on a base or sheet as illustratedin FIG. 11.

The apparatus illustrated in FIG. 17 may be utilized to form and fillpockets or indented formations in sheet material. The member 99 may besimilar in design to member 17 of FIG. 1 and may be provided with one ormore passageways such as 16 therein which extend from a vacuum formingpump for drawing the sheet into the cavity with or without theassistance of male die 97 which may also be used as a filling spout perse adapted to be fed material through passageway 16 for at least partlyfilling the formation or indented sheet portion retained in the femaledie or cavity of 99.

Numerous other modifications of the present invention will beappreciated by those skilled in the art and accordingly the appendedclaims should be construed broadly as is consistent with the appendedclaims and in certain instances, some features of the invention will beused without a corresponding use of other features.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for forming and filling containers comprising incombination:

(a) cooperating male and female die forming means including at least twodie members cooperating to die form a container to final shape,

(b) means for feeding formable material to said die means and dieforming same into the shape of a container between said die means,

(c) one of said die forming means having a male die portion operative toform at least a portion of the inside wall of said container to shapeand having a fluid passageway terminating in alignment with said formedinside wall of said container, and means for supplying fluent materialto said passageway,

(d) valving means for admitting a fluent material to said passageway tofill said container,

(e) and means operative after a container is formed by said die meansand said male die is at least partly removed from the container toactivate said valving means to admit a predetermined quantity ofmaterial to said container.

2. Apparatus for forming and filling containers comprising incombination with sheet forming means, means for feeding a thin sheet ofdeformable material to said forming means, said sheet forming meanshaving means for deforming said sheet into the shape of aself-supporting container, including a first die having a male portionadapted to cooperate in forming the inside of said container and furtherdie means cooperating with said first die and shaped for forming theoutside of said container, said first die having a passageway thereinwith a down- Ward opening for dispensing a fluent material into thecontainer so formed, a source of fluent material communicating with saidpassageway, a valving means positioned for regulating the flow of saidfluent material, means for operating said valving means, means forcontrolling the movement of said sheet and said dies to form a containerportion of said sheet and the operation of said valving means insequence to dispense a predetermined quantity of said fluent materialinto said container portion immediately after its formation, and diecutting means including cooperating die means associated With said firstand said further die means for severing the container formed from saidthin sheet from the remainder of the sheet during the same stroke inwhich said container is formed.

3. Sheet forming apparatus comprising in combination, means feeding asheet of thin deformable material, sheet deforming means including arotationally mounted base, means for rotating said base, a plurality ofsheet forming female dies supported by said base in a circular array andeach having an outwardly facing cavity, means for guiding said sheetmaterial across the face of a cavity of a female die, a male die havinga die nose and movable towards and away from said female dies to engageand deform said sheet, and means advancing said male die to deform saidsheet into a cavity in a female die in synchronization with the rotationof said base when a sheet forming die is aligned therewith.

4. Sheet forming apparatus comprising in combination, means feeding asheet of thin deformable material, sheet deforming means including arotationally mounted base, means for rotating said base, a plurality ofsheet forming first dies supported by said base in a circular array, asecond die movable towards and away from said first dies, means formoving sheet material across the face of at least one of said first diesat substantially the speed at which said first dies are rotated on saidbase, and means for advancing said second die to deform said sheet incooperation with said first die when a first die is aligned therewith.

5. Sheet forming apparatus comprising in combination, means feeding asheet of thin deformable material, sheet deforming means including arotationally mounted base, means for rotating said base, a plurality ofsheet forming first dies supported by said base in a circular array, asecond die having a die nose movable towards and away from said femaledies, means for moving sheet material across the face of a first die atsubstantially the speed at which said first dies are rotated on saidbase, and a cutting die surrounding the nose of said second die, saidcutting die being operative to shear the deformed portion of the sheetfrom the rest of the sheet upon movement of said second die against oneof said first dies after deformation of said sheet thereagainst.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5, including means for retainingthe deformed portion of the sheet against said die nose after saiddeformed portion has been cut from the remainder of the sheet and formoving said male die away from said base to transfer the deformedportion of sheet held on said nose from said female dies.

7. A method of forming articles from thermoplastic sheet materialcomprising the steps of providing a sheet of thermoplastic material at atemperature such that it may be readily vacuum formed, deforming a firstportion of said sheet into a cavity of a mold by means including theapplication of vacuum to the mold cavity and causing said sheet toconform to the shape of the wall of said cavity while retaining theremaining portion of the sheet against the Wall of the mold surroundingsaid cavity, cutting the portion of the sheet deformed in said cavityfrom the rest of the sheet by shearing the sheet exterior of the cavityagainst the wall of the mold, and ejecting the article so formed fromthe mold by applying suflicient positive pressure to the mold cavity toforce the article out of said cavity.

8. Sheet forming apparatus comprising in combination, means feeding asheet of thin die formable material, sheet deforming means includingplural dies operative for engaging said sheet between pairs of said diesfor die forming same to shape, a rotationally mounted base, means forrotating said base, said plural dies including a plurality of sheetforming first female dies supported by said base in a circular array,male die means movable towards and away from said female dies, means forfeeding sheet material between said male die means and said base, andmeans for advancing said male die to deform said sheet in cooperationwith a female die when said female die is aligned therewith, wherebytandem portions of said sheet material are die formed by said male diecooperating with respective female dies as they are rotated by said baseand each come into alignment with said male die.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, including cooperating diecutting means associated with said pairs of dies for severing said dieformed portions of said sheet from the remainder of the sheet as thebase is rotated for defining individual formed articles of the severeddie formed material.

10. A method of forming and feeding containers comprising the steps offeeding a first sheet of material to a forming means including a femaledie and Shaping said first sheet by forming it against the wall of thecavity of said female die to define a first portion of a container whichfirst portion is open at one end and has a flange portion surroundingsaid opening thereof, retaining said first container portion againstsaid female die, feeding a second sheet of material adjacent the cavityof said female die, disposing a product to be packaged onto said secondsheet facing said cavity of said female die and aligning said productwith the open end of said first portion of said container and abuttingand securing said flange portion of said container portion of said firstsheet to said second sheet to contain said product between said firstportion of said container and said second sheet.

11. Sheet forming apparatus comprising in combination, means for feedinga sheet of thin deformable material, sheet deforming means including arotationally mounted base, means for rotating said base, a plurality ofsheet forming male dies supported by said base in a circular array,female die means having a cavity and supported adjacent saidrotationally mounted base, means for supporting sheet material betweensaid base and said female die means, and means for moving said base toadvance a male die thereof to deform said sheet against said female diemeans when said male die is aligned with said female die means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,331,762 10/1943 Brown 53194 XR2,532,871 12/1950 Wagner 53-184 XR 2,934,867 5/1960 Vogt 5330 WILLIAM W.DYER, JR., Primary Examiner. GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, 1a., Examiner.

